We might soon be welcoming a new car brand in Malaysia as the Jaecoo J7 AWD SUV has arrived in Malaysia. No, it has not yet been launched in Malaysia, but both the right-hand drive (RHD) units that have reached our shores are here for road testing purposes. Jaecoo is a sub-brand of Chery, the brand that has returned to the Malaysian market.
Jaecoo Malaysia says that the Jaecoo J7 AWD is also here for exclusive previews for potential dealers and investors in anticipation of showroom openings, and the commencement of preliminary pre-introduction marketing initiatives to build up the excitement ahead of the official introduction to the Malaysian market in 2024.
With most of us having never heard of the Jaecoo J7, the question is, what is it anyway? Well, the Jaecoo J7 AWD is a unibody SUV measuring 4,500 mm long, 1,865 mm wide, and 1,680 mm tall. Its wheelbase measures 2,672 mm long. It is basically about the size of a Honda CR-V, albeit slightly shorter.
Under the hood of the Jaecoo J7 AWD is a 1.6-litre turbocharged gasoline engine that makes 197 hp (metric) and 290 Nm. As its name suggests, power is sent to all 4 wheels, and this is done via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). According to the numbers on Jaecoo’s official website, the J7 AWD sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds and has a WLTP fuel consumption rate of 7.48 L/100km.
With a boxy exterior design, the Jaecoo J7 suggests its capability as a tough SUV. Exterior highlights on the Jaecoo J7 AWD include LED headlights, Welcome Lights, electric flush door handles, and a taillight design that looks similar to what you find on the Ford Everest.
Inside, the Jaecoo J7 AWD features a 6-way electric-adjustable driver seat with seat memory, seat ventilation, and heating. The driver seat also comes with a welcome function like most luxury cars. The cabin also features a centre armrest box with a chiller and a heated steering wheel.
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As for screens, the Jaecoo J7 AWD features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.8-inch head unit. The head unit gets wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto connectivity and is connected to an 8-speaker sound system. The main highlight of the cabin is perhaps the large panoramic sunroof that measures 1.1 m2.
Safety-wise, the Jaecoo J7 AWD gets advanced features like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Speed Assistance, Intelligent Active Speed Limiting, Integrated Cruise Assistance, rear collision warning, and traffic sign recognition.
As of now, Jaecoo Malaysia’s online presence is only through its official Facebook page. You’ll have to refer to Jaecoo’s global website for more information on the brand.
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